Quebec injects $7.85 million in Outaouais health-care

The provincial Liberal government has opted to throw more money at West Quebec’s healthcare problems. On March 3, the Outaouais caucus announced $7.85 million to tackle overcrowding in the region’s hospitals, which have earned a bad reputation.

This past summer, a coroner reported that the Gatineau ER was among the worst in the western world after a patient waited a dozen hours before seeing a physician. He died several days later. This case generated considerable bad press for the Gatineau ER and certainly wasn’t the only instance.

The government says the money will create 99 new spaces for patients, plus adding additional staff to long-term care facilities (CHSLD).

Of the $7.85 million, $5 million will be spent to add 64 CHSLD spaces, one extra space in rehabilitation, and 34 new spots in mental-health programs. These measures should free up an equal number of beds in other healthcare facilities.

The remaining $2.8 million will be used to hire more staff at CHSLDs; Quebec City hopes to see 57 additional workers in West Quebec, such as nurses and attendants.